Gripping device for cable cars



(No Model.)

G. H. DODGE.

GEIPPING DEVICE EOE CABLE GARS. No. 340,034. Patented Apr.- 13, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

GEORGE H. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRIPPING DEVICE FOR CAB'LE CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,034, dated April13, 1886.

Application filed January 25, 1886. Serial No. 189,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DODGE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Gripping Devices for Cable Cars, of which the followingis a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in gripping devices for cablerailways; and the main object of my invention is to move the barshorizontally from and toward each other, one acting on cams ou theother, causing them to grip or release the cable.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improvedgripping device, showing the same open. Fig. 2 is a side view showingthe same closed onto the cable. Fig. 3 is a section ou the line l 2,Fig. 2; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views showing modifications of myinvention.

A B are two atbars secured at their upper ends to nuts a b through themedium of devices which I will describe hereinafter, these 'devicesbeing intended to allow lateral play of' the bars. To these nuts isadapted the 5 screw-shaft C, having right and left handed threads,theright-handed thread being adapted to the nut a and the left-handedthread to the nut b. The screw-shaft Gis free to turn in suitablebearings, c, secured to a plate, X, bolted to the frame-work of the car.

At the lower end of the bar A is a box, D, and at the lower end of thebar B is a box, E. The box D carries a series of cams, F, which arepivoted by a pin, f, to the side cheeks, d, of the box, and said boxslides in the box E, the latter having a portion, e, projecting underthe cams F and forming a bearing for the cable w. A lip, e', formingpart ofthe box E, projects over the upper part of the box D, and servesto keep the boxes always in line with each other. On each cam F, at orabout the point indicated in the drawings, is a pin, g, which passesthrough a slot, h, iu the box E, the box D being recessed at this pointto allow for the free passage of the pin.

Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the grip is open,but by turning the screw-shaft C in the direction of itsarrow the nuts ab will be drawn toward each other,and

5o movement in reverse directions will be imparted to the boxes D E, andthe cams F, being pivoted to the box D and governed by the slots h inthe box E, will gradually close on the cable as the screw is turned,thus firmly gripping the cable.

It will be seen that l do not rely upon the moving cable to insure themovementv of the cams into the position for gripping said cable, themovement of the cams being wholly under control of the screw.

Then the cable is gripped,the cams will be in the position shown in Fig.2. By reversing the movement of the screw-shaft G the boxes D E will bemoved apart, thus forcing the cams clear of the cable, as in Fig. 1.

The nuts aand b have arms m m, through slots a in which pass iiat barsN, secured to the upper ends of the bars A B and suit-ably braced bybars p p, (see Fig. 3,) this construction permitting lateral play of thebars D without straining the plate X. Each nut a b has a fin, s, fittinginto a groove, t, in the plate X, forming the base of the bearingblocksO, the nuts being thereby prevented from turning with the screw-shaft.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 both boxes are providedwith grippingcams, portions of the cams of one box being adapted torecesses in part of the other box, these recesses being such that eachcam is confined between lugs h h', so that the cams can be swung in onedirection or the other by the lateral movement of the boxes. (See Fig.6.)

The cams F may be moditied in shape, as shown in Fig. 7, for instance.

I claim as my inventiony 1. The combination of the boxes D E, movable inopposite directions, withv cable-gripping calns hung to one box andhaving portions engaging with the other box, all substantially asspecified.

2. The combination of the boxes D E, movable in opposite directions, acable-support on said box E, and cable-gripping cams hung to the box Dand operated by engagement with the box E, all substantially asspecified.

3. The combination of the boxes D E,cable gripping cams hung to one boxand having portions engaging with the other box, and a IOO In testimonywhereof I have signed m-yvname to this specification in the presence oftwo snbxo scrbing witnesses.

GEORGE H. DODGE.

rght-and-left screw vand nuts, Wheieby the boxes are causedto move inopposite directions, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the nuts and the 5 right-and-left screw foroperating the same',

with bars A B, carrying gripping mechanism l Witnesses:

and hung to bars N, free to slide laterally in WILLIAM F. DAVIS, thenuts, all substantially as specied. HARRY SMITH.

